Tire.



E; B. HEWITT;

TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED A.UG.'2B, 1909.

Patented Sept. 15,1914;

Y UNITED STATES, PATENT oFFIoE.

' EDWARD n. HEWITT, or RINGWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'ro HEWITT MOTOR,

COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A .cOBPoaArION on NEW YORK.

TIRE.

specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented sent. 1914.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EDWARD R..Hnwrrr, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Ringwood, in the county of Passaic, State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tires, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

- My invention relates to tires, and more particularly to features ofconstruction and arrangement whereby they may be more rapidly attachedto or detached from wheels for replacement or repair, with the object ofeconomy and efficiency in the use of wheels equipped therewith. Theparticular advantages will appear from a detailed description of myinvention in connection with t e drawings forming a part thereof. Figure1 shows a folly of a wheel omitting spokes and hub, with the tire on thefelly, part of which is cut away for pur-v as b H is fabric likewiseembedded or molded poses of illustration. Fig. 2 shows a small sectionof a rim and tire, embodying my invention. Fig. 3 shows one form of ablockor unit. Fig. 4 shows a rim with a tire block lifted from itsnormal position, showing a feature of attachment which may be em--ployed if desirable.

A is the felly; B is the rim; C are blocks or units sometimes calledbuns D is-a wire or rod; E is a turnbuckle uniting the ends of said wireD; F- is a base for the block 0; f is the upturned side of said base; 7"is the u turned and overturned end of the ase F; are wires embedded inblock G;

into and on the base of block G; h is'a portion of one ply of fabric onthe face of the unit; J is a projection or dowel on the rim B; and K isa corresponding depression or recess in the base F of block 0.

The particular form of construction in which I have chosen to illustratethe embodiment of my invention comprises the felly A such as isordinarlly attached to the spokes of a wheel at their extremities, andthe rim B which is secured on the folly in any usual The rim B haslateral beads orclenches 12. Individual units or blocks E sometimescalled buns are made preferably of rubbenor any desired resilientcompound suitable for use, in the form of solid tires. In the base ofeach block C aremetal reinforcing rods G, while several plies of fabricare incorporated in the rubber and may be'laid so'as to reach intothe'body of rubber comprising the block 0 to a greater or less extentand around the rods G. One

of the plies may extend partially up the faces of the blocks as-shown atit. Each block or unit has the fabric and metal rods molded orvulcanized therewith so as to form an integral member. The base Of this5 member is molded so as to resent a lateral protrusion around theentire periphery of the block. .Such end rotrusions may be formed byextending he ends of the rods beyond the body portion of each block. Thebase thus formed receives an independent metallic base member F whichmay be detachably secured to the integral base by 0 posing flanges f, fand f, f formed on t e completed unit blocks made in this fashion 1sequal tothe width of the rim B between the concavities of the twoclencher edges 6.

and then bringing them to a base-contact with the body of the rim B;When in'this' position the securing rod D is adjusted over.

sides and ends respectively of the metallic base. The total width ofthebases of the the contiguous beads of adjacentgblocks. I

By contracting rod D y means of the turn-- buckle E a wedgin action isproduced and the base plates F 0' the blocks G are forced apart and,their outer beads come into a close locking engagement withthe rim B onthefelly.

In order to prevent creeping "or circumferential movement, owing to thetractive effort on the driving wheels, I prefer in some cases to embodypositive means, one form of which is illustrated in Fig. 4., in whichprojections or dowels such as J are stamped up from the rim B, or may bemade in any other suitable manner, and the recess or depression K ismade in the base F of block C, so that by registering of the dowel Jwith the depression K, circumferential movement of the blocks will beprevented when they are held down upon the rim B after the lockingengagement above referred to, brought about by contracting the fasteningwire D.

In the construction described it may be seen that the blocks C with theindividual base can be readily made in quantity, are

small units which can be easily handled, are

comparatively cheap, and can be replaced individually and singly forrepairing a tire instead of the necessity of replacing the completetire. By the use of the single contracting fastening rod or wire D incombination with the blocks, shown and described,-

I aifordasimple and. effective means for quick removal and replacementof any block or of the complete tire. The base of each block may be madeof a steel-stamping,

which is simpleand cheap to produce. By my design of the base for theindividual 7 block- I secure a stifi construction by means of theupturned edges, which at the same time accomplishes the further 'urposeof securing the rubber portion .of t e block to its base. I may make thedowels a tight fit or a snap fit so that each block is held in placeduring assembling and before the securing ,wire is put in place. Y

tire composed of a plurality of interchange able blocks provided withrelatively rigid bases disposed on the rim in a plurality ofcircumferential rows between the clenchers,

the total transverse width of the base mem' bers of the rows of blocksbeing equal substantially to the width of the rim, and adjustable meansdisposed operatively between the base members of adjacent rows of blocksto force the same into locking engagement with the clenchers of the rim.

2. In combination with a clencher rim, a tire composed of a plurality ofinterchangeable blocks provided with relatively rigid bases havingyielding treads and disposed rows between the clenchers, the totaltransverse width of the base members of the rows of blocks being equalsubstantially to the width of the rim, a circumferential rod disposedoperatively between the base memers of adjacent rows of blocks and meansto take up on said rod to force the blocksinto locking engagement withthe clenchers of the rim. H

3. In a sectional or block tire, a unit including a rubber bodyportion,fabric molded in the base thereof, a plurality of rods on the rim in aplurality of circumferential near the base thereof projecting beyond themain portion. of the block, a metal, base covering the bottom of saidblock, upturned edges on said base embracing or clenching protrudingbase extensions of said rubber blocks and embracing the projecting endsof said rods.

4. In a sectional. or blocli tire separate rubbersections, a flatmetallic base for each rubber section having upturned sides affordingpermanent attachment to the section, stiff material embedded in the baseof said sections and in part projecting therefrom and engaged by theupturned edges of said sections, means on the baseof each section andmeans on the face of the rim having a tight fit with the means on thebase of each bloclc whereby the latter may be held in temporary positionfor assembling.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification at theborough of Manhattan, city and State of New York,

on the 26th day of August 1909., in the-presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

EDWARD R. HEWITT. YVitnesses:

FRANK ACKERMAN, JOHN M. CoNNnRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

